From Livingston Parish Public Schools

For Immediate Release – August 31, 2009

Contact:  Delia A. Taylor, APR, 225-931-0286 or taylormedia@bellsouth.net, or Superintendent Bill Spear, 225-686-7044 or bill.spear@lpsb.org.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Livingston Parish Public School officials will celebrate the opening of the new Family Resource Center with a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. next Tuesday (Sept. 8) in Room 165 of the Literacy and Technology Center, located at 9261 Florida Blvd, near Walker.

The Family Resource Center was created to provide resources that will assist and support families with their children’s education.

The center will provide free educational materials to parents of children in Livingston Parish Public Schools.  This loaning library includes videos, books, games, flashcards, electronic games and resources, special needs information and ACT prep materials.  The center will also offer a variety of workshops throughout the school year.

A certified teacher will be on staff to assist parents, along with a family facilitator who specializes in resources for children with exceptionalities and special needs.

Debbie Kropog, the school system’s federal programs facilitator, said she and other educators visited several parenting centers in the state to determine a “best practices” design for the new center. 

She said the Family Resource Center will be open to “walk-ins,” as well as to parents whose children receive FAST passes from their teachers.  The FAST passes will indicate what subject material the student needs to study to strengthen his or her understanding and skills.  The parent can present the PASS to the teacher on staff for a “customized” list of materials for their child.

The center will be open Tuesday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kropog said the new center is funded through several federal grants and donations from local businesses.

For more information on the center, contact Jennifer Rabalais at 225-667-1098 or jennifer.rabalais@lpsb.org.